The linear and mass ablation rates of Ti 2 AlC ceramics under an oxyacetylene flame at a temperature up to 3000°C were examined by measuring the dimensions and weight change of the ablated samples. The linear ablation rate was decreased from 0.14μms −1 for the first 30s of the ablation to 0.08μms −1 after 180s. Ti 2 AlC ceramics gained small amounts of weight upon ablation, which is attributed to the formation of oxidation products on the ablated surface. The ablation surface exhibits a two-layer structure: an oxide outer layer, consisting mainly of α-Al 2 O 3 and TiO 2 and some Al 2 TiO 5 , and a porous sub-surface layer containing Ti 2 Al 1−x C and TiC x O y . With increasing ablation time, the content of TiO 2 and Al 2 TiO 5 in the outer layer increased, and more pores developed in the sub-surface layer. The thermal oxidation of Ti 2 AlC under the flame and scouring of the viscous oxidation products by high-speed flow of gas torch are the main ablation mechanisms.